Greetings fellow members, I wonder if any of you have managed to trace an annoying squeak coming from the front of the car, mostly on the right side but occasionally on the left too. It sounds like a mouse is trapped in the bulkhead and it happens mostly when the car corners to the left or goes over some uneven surface. It is very intermittent, sometimes it goes away for days on end, other times it is very prominent. I have greased the upper and lower balljoints, the shock absorber bushes have been replaced. I am shortly going to remove the front springs to insert some shims to increase the ride height to its correct level, and will have a good look around when the springs are out. I was wondering if the anti-roll bar rubbers could be the cause?
has anybody been this way before?????
Kindest regards, Danny.

 

could be the steering Rack being moved from side to side as you turn, it is a known issue with the Series 3. Check the rack bushings, mounted on two front member "ears" on top of the rack.

 

Check the front stabilizer bar bushings for wear...

 

Thank you Jose and abonano for your suggestions, I am most grateful.
I will report back with news of my progress.
Regards, Danny.

 

This annoying and intermittent squeak finally cured!
In my earlier post I had stated that the shock absorber (Damper) bushes were replaced. Unfortunately, the bushes used were flat sided and they allowed the threaded top of the shock absorber to contact the body of the car.
I have now used new bushes that have a small shoulder which when used back to back, centralise the threaded top and isolate it from touching the body.
I am annoyed that the previous mechanic who fitted new shock absorbers had used such stupid bushes!
If you want a job done properly, do it yourself my old Dad used to say!
Thanks again to fellow members who offered advice.
Kind regards, Danny.

 

When you replaced just the top bushes that go on both sides of the body of the car (one on top and one at the bottom). How did you replace the bottom one, and was it easy? If I jack up the car with the tire remaining on the ground, will the top of the shock clear from the body so I can take out the bottom bushing?

Thanks!

 

Nope.

It will not clear that hole. They are "gas charged" shockers, and travel to FULL extension all on their own.

Either get your mate to push them down from above, then you tie them in thw compressed position through the wheel opening, and replace the said bushes, then cut that tie and allow the stud to travel up through the hole, and continue replacing the top bushes.

If you are real STRONG in the arms (as I once was), you can pull the upper section of the shocker down on your own (via the wheel opening wheel OFF), and slip the old bush off, the new on, then release it and guide that pin back through the hole.

OR, remove the lower pin, and remove the shocker from the car totally, and do what you need. This is the way I do it now.

It is a bugga of a job, but certainly not rocket science by any means.

 

This method worked for me, just don't get your skin pinched between the top of the pin and the bodywork because its seems to get a whole lot harder to pull down again when you are in pain!

 

Hell yeh.

 

I thought pain gave you an adrenaline rush, it must do from the way I jump out of my skin when I hit any part of me!!